Matador Files

Steve Wilcoxon (wilcoxon@cis.udel.edu)
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[Based on the Matador series by Steve Perry.]

Musashi Flex:

A loose collection of fighters who constantly test themselves against one
another. It is usually done one on one. The opponents decide on armed or
unarmed (unarmed being more common), but sometimes resort to using hidden
weapons in the event that they start to lose (the honor is in surviving).
The fights can be to any extent - to the death, "blood and bones" (first
blood or broken bone), submission, or some other basis for winning.

The Musashi Flex is illegal in most areas as it tends to leave dead bodies
around after encounters between "players".

The Maze:

One of the few legally sanctioned events for the Musashi Flex, it is held
periodically [however often the GM feels like making it] in a large section
of abandoned buildings in [insert city].

There are 100 entrants and each must pay the 10,000Y entrance fee. The
winner gets 500,000Y [it was 100% in the books]. The rules are as follows:
1) no weapons (if a weapon is used, the participant is instantly
disqualified - losing their entrance fee) 2) there can be only one winner
(alliances are allowed, but must be "broken" to determine a winner) 3) there
is a one week time limit (if more than one entrant is left at that point,
there is no winner). The rules, such as they are, are strictly enforced. A
combatant is considered "out" when incapacitated (unconscious, severely
wounded, or dead). There is excellent medical staff standing by so it is
uncommon for someone to die.

One of the most dangerous parts of the Maze is getting food. There are only
10 feeding stations which make prime sites for ambushes.

Fugue:

With the advent of improved technology and magic to help in determining the
truth of statements, it became harder and harder to lie. Fugue is the skill
of giving half-truths and undetectable mis-directions.

Fugue is a social skill. The number of dice used in a fugue test can not be
higher than the language skill being used. If the questioner has 2 or more
levels in excess of the questionee, then fugue will do no good (the
questioner knows what questions to ask to force a full answer, but he must
still have a way of verifying the truth). Otherwise, an opposed success test
is made between the two with a target number of the intelligence of the
other.

Fugue is useful against any form of mechanical lie detection short of a full
brain scan (i.e. thoughts, memories, etc) [if this even exists in your game]
and "simple" spells (like Detect Lie), but not more thorough spells (like
Mind Probe).

Bacterial Augmentation:

This is a military treatment which involves injecting a short lived culture
(6 months) into the patient's blood stream. The colony is self- replicating
and will cause an extreme itching sensation until it is fully in place (2-3
days). The culture has the effect of greatly increasing reaction time.

Effects:        +2 Reaction
                +1D6 Initiative
Body Cost:      .25 [one-time cost (i.e. when
                re-injected in 6 months no
                further loss of Body occurs)]
Legality:       1-M4 [this is highly
                restricted - anyone caught
                using or in possession of
                this will be fined and jailed
                (treat as upper part of M3
                for sentencing)]
Availability:   24/30 days
Cost:           variable [price is whatever
                the fixer/doc/whatever
                wants to charge]


Reflex:

This is a drug that boosts reflexes and heightens perceptions for short
amounts of time (1D6 x 10 minutes). This drug has two side effects: 1) it is
addictive [Willpower test with target number of 4 + # of doses in last week
to avoid addiction], and 2) it causes the user to "crash" after the effects
wear off (8S Stun).

Effects:        +1D6 Initiative
Legality:       3-M1
Availability:   6/5d
Cost:           200Y

Parker Carbine:

This is a .177 caliber assault rifle firing caseless high-explosive rounds
mainly used by military units in war zones.

Conceal:        3
Ammo:           500(c) [HE only]
Mode:           FA
Damage:         6M (not adjusted for HE mods)
Weight:         3.6kg empty, 5.1kg loaded
Availability:   12/7d
Legality:       1-G
Cost:           2,500Y
extras:         gas-vent 2, recoil penalties
                are halved due to small round